All But Christ

Two-sided tape has its good use and proper place but it's tricky to work with! Once unfurled, its double-sided stickiness makes it stick to everything! Oh, the foolishness of mankind when he attempts to cast off all rule except his own. David wrote of those who say, "let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint] and cast away their cords [of control] from us." (Psalm 2:3 AMP). In other words, there were (and are) those who say, "let me just do my own thing." Perhaps you've heard someone say, "the Lord helps those who help themselves." Those who take the reins of their own lives are surely bound to end up "stuck" where they never intended to be ... stuck! God's response when we are so determined to live as we please, "He Who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion]; the [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them]." (Verse 4). I'm amazed at my own self-confidence as I plow-on in fool-hearted sufficiency; amazed because I most assuredly end up in the same sticky place as on previous occasions. God graciously and kindly warns us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5 ESV). You see, God has appointed and firmly installed a King - He is Jesus, the One Who rules and gives us rest. Why do we put ourselves in such a state of distress time and time again when we have an almighty and perfect King! In the face of so many other rulers of the wandering heart, cast-off ... all but Christ.

Your King

You could be one whose mailbox has exploded with campaign materials; if you are not, you must not t have a mailbox! I regret to remind us all, there are many months yet to go before election season is past. Psalm 2 says, "Why are the nations in an uproar and the people devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed." (Verses 1-2) NASB). Most likely, David was referring to the nations of his day that confronted him as God's appointed king of Israel. The line of Davidic kings came about because the people said to God: "give us a king to judge us" (1 Samuel 8:6). In Verses 11-18, God warned His people that an earthly king would make demands of the people - taking, taking, taking from them to the point that the people would ultimately become servants to the king who ruled over them. The saddest truth is what God said of His people, and a sad truth even today: "they have rejected Me from being king over them" (1 Samuel 8:7 NASB). How easily we forget that every time we disobey, we reject God as king! We, of course, have elected leaders and it is our civic duty to have a voice in electing them, let us remember there is a King Who rules perfectly in truth and justice. Should we expect those we support to lead in the same way - absolutely, yes we should! More importantly, we should ask ourselves: who is ruling my heart and defining how I live? Those who profess to know and love The Lord understand we submit to a higher authority. Who is ... your king?

His Presence

Have you ever overlooked something? You were so intently focused on one particular thing, you totally missed something else. I suggest this happens more than we care to admit as followers of Jesus. Hear David's words in Psalm 16: "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." (Verse 11 AMP). Country music artist Johnny Lee sang of looking in all the wrong places, and I suggest at times we all miss what is lasting because we're searching among what is temporal. Isaiah 40:8 speaks a tremendously profound truth: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." When God speaks, He speaks from eternity past to eternity future with unwavering truth! There is nothing casual about what He says. Peter echoed God's words given to David, "You will fill me (infusing my soul) with joy with Your presence." (Acts: 2:28 AMP). It should be a mystery that God's beloved children move through life indecisive where genuine joy and satisfaction are found. My Dad used to say, "God said it and that settles it." Do you find yourself drifting about in wonder hoping to determine your place in this life? David knew, Peter knew and we know ... we are best suited and at great peace in the presence of The One Who loves and provides perfectly. He has made know to us where fullness of joy and forevermore pleasures are found ... His Presence.

Your Right Hand

This fact may surprise you but it is estimated that 85-90% of people are right-handed! Having no dominant hand is exceptionally rare, representing roughly 1% of the population. David wrote, "I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory (my innermost self) rejoices; my body too will dwell [confidently] in safety." (Psalm 16:8-9 AMP). In Scripture, the "right hand" often signifies a place of honor or authority. David testifies with his words that all honor and authority belong to The Lord. It is God Who is David's firm foundation, Who gladdens David's heart, it is in The LORD that David knows complete safety. Paul says it like this: "And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age." (Ephesians 1:19-21 ESV). Jesus, seated at the right hand of The Father, is The One before Whom we are humbled; it is He we exalt by submitting to His Authority. In Him we are unshakable, joyful, safe and secure. Truly, it doesn't matters whether you are right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous. What matters is that you keep Jesus at your right hand always.

The Best Somebody

We all know, of course, the truest treasures of this life aren't things at all! It's not uncommon, however, to own "things" that have value. Unfortunately, too many times we seem to value the tangible things too much, hold them too tightly and close to our hearts. David wrote in Psalm 16, "I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.'" (V.2 AMP). A more literal translation of David's words to God is ... there is nothing pleasant, agreeable, valuable, excellent, good, prosperous, beneficial nor  better than The Lord. He understood the very best of himself was The Lord Himself. How is it possible to know such a thing? One answer ... humility. David's words will never be our words unless we see ourselves less and God more. John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 ESV).  It's a daily bowing of self to The One Who longs to lift us above all we face in this life. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:10 ESV). You see, the need to exalt ourselves is Satan's strategy and we've believed it far too long. It is the world's advice to promote yourself if you ever want to "be somebody." The child of God already IS somebody - rescued and on the way to glory; Christ has become the Good in us and when we are little and He is big in us - that's the best somebody we will ever be. Be your ... best somebody!